Low-Battery Warnings: Ignore 'Em

[Jason Dunn]

I have this theory that when someone tells you that you should do something, you should stop and consider their motives for doing so. Do they have your best interests at heart, or are they simply a person providing a service that makes them money? For instance, if your dentist tells you that you should come in for cleanings three times a year (instead of once or twice), I think it's healthy to question whether or not that's really required.

Healthy questioning is a trait that that many of us sometimes lack, myself included. A small instance of this occurs with the wireless mouse and keyboards I use. Whenever the software tells me that the batteries are critically low, I replace them. I don't wait to have problems with it, I just do what the software tells me to do. With my Logitech Wave keyboard and mouse (a really nice product by the way, the best I've used), I started seeing the low-battery warning about six weeks ago. Normally I'd replace them right away, but I decided to see how long the mouse would continue to be usable.

Imagine my surprise when, six weeks later, the mouse is still working fine. To be fair, three of those weeks I was away and not using the mouse, but three weeks of extra use out of the same pair of AA batteries is impressive. I'm not sure how long it will last, but I'm going to keep ignoring this low battery warning since it's obviously more than a little over-sensitive. I suppose it might be rather inconvenient if the mouse stops working while I'm playing City of Heroes, but I'll take that risk. ;-)

[Jason Dunn]

I have this theory that when someone tells you that you should do something, you should stop and consider their motives for doing so. Do they have your best interests at heart, or are they simply a person providing a service that makes them money? For instance, if your dentist tells you that you should come in for cleanings three times a year (instead of once or twice), I think it's healthy to question whether or not that's really required.

Healthy questioning is a trait that that many of us sometimes lack, myself included. A small instance of this occurs with the wireless mouse and keyboards I use. Whenever the software tells me that the batteries are critically low, I replace them. I don't wait to have problems with it, I just do what the software tells me to do. With my Logitech Wave keyboard and mouse (a really nice product by the way, the best I've used), I started seeing the low-battery warning about six weeks ago. Normally I'd replace them right away, but I decided to see how long the mouse would continue to be usable.

Imagine my surprise when, six weeks later, the mouse is still working fine. To be fair, three of those weeks I was away and not using the mouse, but three weeks of extra use out of the same pair of AA batteries is impressive. I'm not sure how long it will last, but I'm going to keep ignoring this low battery warning since it's obviously more than a little over-sensitive. I suppose it might be rather inconvenient if the mouse stops working while I'm playing City of Heroes, but I'll take that risk. ;-)

[mcwilliams132]

I've been seeing that warning more often than not lately too. I've basically ignored it. I'll wait till my mouse stops moving to replace my batteries. Thank God for rechargeable batteries.

[Jason Dunn]

Originally Posted by mcwilliams132

Thank God for rechargeable batteries.

It's funny, I have rechargeable EVERYTHING...except I don't use rechargeable batteries in my mouse or keyboard units. Since they tend to last 4-6 months, it hasn't seemed like a pressing need.

[makicr]

I too have a Logitech Mouse/Keyboard combo and have learned to ignore the "Critical" warnings. Before my mouse will totally stop working, I notice a definite performance decrease (poor tracking) that signals the real need to replace the batteries.

While it is fun to think that Logitech has some behind the scenes deal with battery manufacturers, to encourage us to spend our hard-earned (and rapidly disappearing) monies, I suspect they are operating under the theory of "better safe than sorry."

[phoenixag]

Yeah, they always operate under a "better safe than sorry" approach.

Because I don't use the software they provide, I don't see the warnings in the OS about low battery about my mouse. I rely on the hardware warning light and also keep a spare pack of alkalines handy.

And yes, somehow, I don't use rechargeable batteries in my mice too!

I've found that most devices can be pushed farther than what they tell you their limit is. However, I usually tend to keep my lithium ion based batteries charged up, as its not good to fully deplete them.

Other than that, I abuse and use alkalines till they die!

[Phillip Dyson]

I'm taking all of this in, as I'm probably going to install StarCraft onto my Media PC. I'm decided to enter the market for a wireless keyboard and mouse in anticipation of StarCraft II.

[The Yaz]

I use the same model of wireless mouse & keybord both at home and work (Microsoft Wireless Elite keyboard & Intellimouse 2.0). When my IT department gave me the set for my office, I like it so much that I purchased the same setup for my home office.

So both sets had batteries installed within days of each other. Last week, I noticed that the mouse and keyboard were acting sluggish so I tried to reset/reconnect them to the transmitter.

After the reset, the low battery box came up. Once I replaced the batteries, they were good to go. Last night, the same thing happened to my home setup...

I thought that was pretty freaky

Steve

[Darius Wey]

I got a little fed up with the Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 6000, so I ended up replacing it, but back when I was still using it, I could easily get an additional two months from the first battery warning.

I use a Logitech VX Revolution with my laptop. Unfortunately, I can only get another week or two from the first battery warning before performance suffers. It usually dies after three to four weeks.

[yslee]

May I recommend Sanyo Eneloops to you all non-rechargeable users: http://www.eneloop.info/

[Jason Dunn]

Originally Posted by Darius Wey

I got a little fed up with the Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 6000, so I ended up replacing it...

I have four sets of wireless mouse/keyboard combos in my home, and only one is a Microsoft set - I've had so many problems with interference that I switched to Logitech. Logitech units have worse battery life (particularly the mouse), but they don't have the interference problems that Microsoft products have, likely because they use more power to transmit a stronger signal.